Spatz Aparthotel

For a budget stay in a great location, this is fine as a bed for the night. The sheets looked clean and I got fresh towels daily, but I wouldn't expect much beyond that. If it weren't for the location, I wouldn't recommend it. The hotel feels dated, with a strange smell on entering. My room had dusty skirting boards, a shower door that wasn't attached properly at the bottom, and a generally dusty feel to the air that irritated my skin, even though the floor seemed to have been vacuumed. The hairdryer was ancient and switched itself off after two minutes to avoid overheating. There wasn't a well-lit mirror for makeup either, so I used daylight by the window, which was harder in the winter evenings.

As a solo traveller, this hotel worked perfectly for me. My room was clean and comfortable, and the hotel itself is warm and nicely located near the Old Town and Jewish Quarter. There's no lift, but carrying my bags for a 3 night stay upstairs was no problem. I only had breakfast once and paid at the restaurant, which was easy and a good choice if you don't want it every day. There's no dinner service, but plenty of places to eat nearby. The cosy bar shuts at 22:00. Tip: take the train from the airport to Kraków Grzegórzki. It's only a ten minute walk from there, closer than the central station.

Right by Plac Nowy and only 10 minutes from the old town, the location in Kazmierz is the main reason this hotel works. It could be a prime place if someone spent money renovating it, because at the moment it looks badly worn and outdated. From outside, you can't really tell it's open or even a hotel. Inside, there was an eerie emptiness. During our three night stay, I never saw the bar or restaurant busy. The staff were helpful and friendly, and checked us in right away, but the stairs and hallways looked grubby and neglected, with worn skirting boards gathering dust. The room had the same tired feel, with cheap, heavily worn furniture and damaged, dirty skirting boards. Most of it was clean enough, the shower had good pressure and hot water, but the whole hotel is noticeably aged. The listing photos look much newer, though they seem to be nearly ten years old. Without the convenient location, it would be pretty bad.

Warm and comfortable for a few days exploring the city, with kettles, tea, coffee and fridges in the rooms. The location is great for a city break and there’s everything you need nearby. It isn't the Ritz, but it does the job. A Bolt from the airport is a quick transfer straight to the door. I'd skip the train, since you'd still have a 20 walk.